Pages

Friday, October 12, 2018

Book Review and Giveaway - Renewed

Book Title: Renewed

Author: Leigh Powers

Genre: Devotional

Release date: November, 2017

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Ministry is a privilege, but it can also be a painful experience. Unrealistic expectations, church conflict, forced resignations, and our own struggles with burnout, loneliness, and insecurity can make church feel more like a place of wounding than a place of healing. How can wounded leaders find the courage to reject bitterness and keep loving the church?

Renewed is a forty-day devotional for women in ministry, ministry wives, and lay leaders who have been wounded by their congregations. You are not alone. God sees your pain. He knows your hurts. And he is waiting to bind up your broken heart. This forty-day journey into the healing love of Jesus will help you find the courage to stop hiding and start loving the church again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Leigh Powers is passionate about helping women find hope and healing in God’s Word. A pastor’s wife and mother of three with fifteen years of full-time ministry experience, she is a freelance writer, Bible study and devotional author, and a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She blogs regularly at www.leighpowers.com. You can usually find her with either a book or knitting needles in her hand—and sometimes both.

MY REVIEW:

This book really resonated with my heart. I have some tender wounds that have been caused by those in the church and, because we expect Christians to be kinder, the hurts inflicted by them seem to hurt worse than from others.

I love how the author is so real and honest about situations in her life. She doesn't try to soften her words but is totally open. I also love that she points us to the Word of God as a balm to our souls and also for wisdom for all situations. This is where our truth is found.

This book is written from a Pastor's wife point of view, but if you have been in any kind of leadership in the church, you are going to really relate to this lovely devotional. I found so much healing through her words and especially the questions for contemplation at the end of each day. There is also a table of contents that speaks specifically to situations that you may have need of wisdom about. I found this especially helpful because we all have things that are bothers us more than others and it was so nice to go right to that specific subject matter.

I love this book and I know that I will re-read it over and over again. It's the first book I've read that truly helped me in the area of hurts from the church people. If you've had the same experience, I hope that you will get your own copy. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me by Celebrate Lit. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.

GIVEAWAY!!

To celebrate her tour, Leigh is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click HERE TO ENTER GIVEAWAY.

GUEST POST BY LEIGH:

I love ministry life. Several years ago, a young woman from Southeast Asia came to my English as a Second Language class for a year. Her English wasn’t very good, and I had to tug to get a word out of her. She came every week, but I wondered how much she was getting from the Bible stories we did during each class. At the end of the semester, I asked our class to share what they wanted to tell their friends and family when they went home. She looked up at me with big brown eyes. “I want to tell people about Jesus.”

Those are the ministry moments that thrill us. It is a privilege to help people find freedom in Christ, teach God’s word, worship with the congregation, and walk alongside people in their moments of joy or sorrow. On those days I can’t imagine choosing another life. Then there are days that make me want to hang it all up and go work at Wal-Mart. Days when anonymous letters get slipped under the office door. Days when you’re the brunt of gossip, when loneliness is like an ache in your bones, or when you start sending out resumes for new positions because you aren’t sure how much longer you’ll have the one you’ve got.

Ministry can be tough. Over the years I’ve met many women who have experienced the painful side of ministry. Church conflicts, forced resignations, depression, loneliness, feelings of inadequacy, and our own struggles with faith can take a toll. That painful side of ministry can make us start looking for an escape hatch.

I wrote Renewed in the middle of a difficult ministry season. It was a hard season, but it was also a season where Jesus showed up for me in an almost tangible way. At the same time, I was also hearing stories from other ministry wives and women in ministry that sounded all too familiar. I started putting words on the page, hoping that somehow God would use them to bring healing to other women in the same way he had brought healing to me. That outpouring of hurt, healing, and hope eventually became Renewed.

Some of you reading this are nodding along right now because you’ve been there too. You love the church, but you’ve seen how ugly it can be when we get it wrong. You’ve got wounds of your own, and sometimes you wonder if you can ever risk your heart again. If that’s you, I want you to know that there is hope. God has not abandoned you. God sees your hurt, he knows your pain, and he is waiting to bind up your broken spirit. He’s waiting. Turn to him, and may you find your spirit renewed.

My Tweets!

I'm on Goodreads!

Follow Me on MeWe!!

About Me

I love and follow the Lord, Jesus Christ. I'm a wife and Mom and I love taking care of my family. I am a 10 year homeschooling Mom veteran and that has been the greatest journey in my life. I am a writer and artist that is following the Lord's leading. I am a reviewer of books and media and am a Top Reviewer on Amazon. I also enjoy crocheting, embroidery, counted cross stitch and art journaling.
The Lord has blessed me much!